American fiction -- 19th century; Historical fiction; Indians of North America -- Fiction
How far the Holy Spirit
aided these better feelings, it might be presumptuous, on the one hand,
to say; while, on the other, it will be equally presuming to think of
denying the possibility--nay, the probability--that the great change
which so suddenly came over the heart of Peter was produced by more than
mere human agencies. We know that this blessed Spirit is often poured
out, in especial cases, with affluent benevolence, and there can be no
sufficient reason for supposing this savage might not have been thus
signally favored, as soon as the avenues of his heart opened to the
impulses of a generous humanity. The very qualities that would induce
such a being to attempt the wild and visionary scheme of vengeance and
retribution, that had now occupied his sleeping and waking thoughts for
years, might, under a better direction, render him eminently fit to be
the subject of divine grace. A latent sense of right lay behind all his
seeming barbarity, and that which to us appears as a fell ferocity, was,
in his own eyes, no less than a severe justice.
The words, the principles, the prayers, and, more than all, the EXAMPLE
of the missionary, wrought this great change, so far as human agencies
were employed; but the power of God was necessary to carry out and
complete this renewal of the inner man. We do not mean that a miracle
was used in the sudden conversion of this Indian to better feelings, for
that which is of hourly occurrence, and which may happen to all, comes
within the ordinary workings of a Divine Providence, and cannot thus be
designated with propriety; but we do wish to be understood as saying,
that no purely human power could have cleared the moral vision, changed
all the views, and softened the heart of such a man, as was so promptly
done in the case of Peter. The way had been gradually preparing,
perhaps, by the means already described, but the great transformation
came so suddenly and so powerfully as to render him a different being,
as it might almost be, in the twinkling of an eye! Such changes often
occur, and though it may suit the self-sufficiency of the worldling
to deride them, he is the wisest who submits in the meekest spirit to
powers that exceed his comprehension.
In this state of mind, then, Peter left the band as soon as the fate of
the missionary was decided. His immediate object was to save the
whites who remained, Gershom and Dorothy now having a place in his
good intentions, as well as le Bourdon and Margery. Although he moved
swiftly, and nearly by an air-line, his thoughts scarce kept company
with his feet. During that rapid walk, he was haunted with the image of
a man, dying while he pronounced benedictions on his enemies!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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